GENERATOR ROTOR BEARING PRELOAD METHOD AND APPARATUS
A generator has its length shortened by placing springs in a space in a casing that includes an output shaft, which is driven by an input shaft, and a yoke for separating the two shafts. The generator is assembled by placing a spring in a space in a casing having a first part. The space also has a yoke in it. A rotor bearing is placed in the space adjacent to and impinging upon the spring. A second part of the casing is attached to the first part of the casing so that the spring is pre-loaded therein. The generator also utilizes a guide for holding a spring. The generator also has a thrust plate for applying a force of the springs upon the rotor bearing.
Some generators, including those used with commercial aircraft, are required by design to disconnect from power transferred from a gearbox or other power transfer mechanism in the event of generator failure. Disconnecting the generator is a safety precaution to reduce the likelihood that a broken generator would damage the gearbox or engine and to reduce further damage to the generator. Some generators effectively use a yoke having a ramp to disconnect the generator from the gearbox. A yoke requires axial space to disconnect a gear shaft from a generator axle.
Modern variable frequency aircraft generators typically utilize axially preloaded angular contact bearings in order to increase the generator critical speed. This preload spring has traditionally been a crest-to-crest wave spring that is placed within a generator casing.
Reduction of the weight of aircraft parts to increase the efficiency of aircraft is a normal goal of aircraft part designers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to the invention, a generator has its length shortened by placing springs in a space in a casing in which a yoke operates to separate an output shaft from an input shaft thereby reducing the length and weight of the generator.
According to the invention, a method of assembling a generator involves placing a spring in a space in a casing having a first part. The space also has a yoke in it. A rotor bearing is placed adjacent to and impinges upon the spring. Then a second part of the casing is attached to the first part of the casing so that the spring is pre-loaded in the space.
According to an embodiment of the invention, an aircraft generator utilizes a spring guide for holding a spring. The spring guide has a cylindrical body having an outside diameter such that a ratio of the outside diameter of the cylindrical body to an outside diameter of the spring is approximately 0.56.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, a thrust plate for use in an aircraft generator has a flat ring-shaped body having an interior diameter and an exterior diameter defining a width such that a ratio of the width of said body to the outer diameter is approximately 0.16
According to a further embodiment of the invention, a liner for an aircraft generator having a plurality of springs therein has a ring-shaped body having an inner diameter of 3.973 inches or 100.9 mm and an outer diameter of 4.337 inches or 110.16 mm, and a plurality of cut-outs disposed in the inner diameter.
According to a still further embodiment of the invention, an assembly for an aircraft generator having a bearing therein has a spring guide, a spring disposed around said spring guide a liner aligning the spring guide, and a thrust plate contiguous to the spring and the bearing.
The present invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the views and in which:
Referring now to
The rotor balance assembly 35 and the output shaft 30 are supported by a pair of bearing assemblies 45. A wave spring (see also
A yoke 60 is disposed within the casing 10 at a distal end 65 of the output shaft assembly 20. The yoke moves towards the inner shaft 25 and engages a ramped surface 70 thereon to move the inner shaft axially away from the input shaft thereby disengaging the inner shaft 25 from the input shaft 15. In certain situations, like damage to the generator, the generator must be disabled to avoid damage to the gear box or other power source (not shown) or further damage to the generator.
The axial length of the generator 5 includes the width of the wave spring 50 (see
Referring now to
The rotor balance assembly 135 and the output shaft 130 are supported by a pair of bearing assemblies 145. A plurality of helical springs (see also
A flat ring-shaped thrust plate 159 engages each of the springs and a bearing assembly 145. The thrust plate has an inner diameter of 2.660 inches or 67.564 mm and an outer diameter of 3.925 inches or 99.695 mm defining a width of 0.6325 inches or 16.066 mm such that a ratio between the width and the outer diameter of such thrust plate is 0.161. The thrust plate also has an outer rim 163 disposed thereon facing the bearing assembly 145.
As is known in the art, the bearing assemblies 145 need lubrication. Given the position of the thrust plate described herein, the communication between lubricating oil (not shown) and the bearing assemblies may be impeded. Therefore to avoid any impedance in communication of the oil and the bearing assemblies, the thrust plate 159 has a plurality of holes 161 disposed therein to allow oil to flow therethrough.
A yoke 160 is disposed within the casing 110 in a space 162 at a proximal end 165 of the output shaft assembly 120. The yoke moves towards the inner shaft 125 and engages a ramped surface 170 thereon to move the inner shaft axially away from the input shaft thereby disengaging the inner shaft 125 from the input shaft. In certain situations, like damage to the generator, the generator must be disabled to avoid damage to the gear box or other power source (not shown).
Referring to
Referring now to
By switching from a wave spring 50 that is at an end of the generator that is distal from the yoke 60, to a plurality of helical springs 150 in the essentially unused space 162 at an end of the generator that is proximal to the yoke 160, the length of the generator is reduced by the width of the wave spring 50. Because the yoke 160 protrudes into space 162, a wave spring could not be used therein and other types of springs, like helical springs, are used.
The foregoing description is only exemplary of the principles of the invention. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than using the example embodiments which have been specifically described. For that reason the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.
Claims
1. Apparatus for minimizing the size of a generator, said apparatus comprising:
- a casing;
- an input shaft;
- an output shaft attaching to a rotor within said casing and being driven by said input shaft;
- a yoke for separating said input shaft from said output shaft;
- a space within said casing in which said yoke selectively operates to separate said input shaft and said output shaft; and
- a spring disposed within said space, wherein said spring is capable of being preloaded.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said spring has an axis that is disposed in parallel to an axis of said output shaft.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:
- a support disposed within said spring.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said support has a height relating to said spring whereby a ratio between a length of an installed said spring and a length of said support is approximately 1.23.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
- a thrust plate for directing a force of said spring along said spring axis.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
- a guide for aligning said spring in said space.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said guide is a cut-out in a bearing liner.
8. Method of assembling a generator having a minimized length comprising:
- placing an axial spring in space in a casing having a first part, said space having a yoke therein;
- utilizing a spring guide to align said spring within said space;
- placing a thrust plate against spring;
- inserting a rotor bearing into said space such that said rotor bearing impinges upon said thrust plate; and
- attaching a second part of said casing to said first part such that said spring is pre-loaded therein.
9. The method of assembling of claim 8 further comprising:
- placing said spring within a support before placing said spring in said space.
10. The method of claim 8 wherein said spring having free length of approximately 41.783 mm is preloaded to an installed length of 33.147 mm.
11. A guide for a helical spring for use in an aircraft generator, said guide comprising:
- a cylindrical body said cylindrical body having an outside diameter such that a ratio of the outside diameter of said body to an outside diameter of said spring is approximately 0.56.
12. The guide of claim 11 wherein said guide further comprises a round base attached to an end of said cylindrical body wherein a ratio of the diameter of the base to said outside diameter of the cylindrical body is approximately 1.814.
13. A thrust plate for communicating a load on a bearing in an aircraft generator, said thrust plate comprising:
- a flat ring-shaped body having an interior diameter and an exterior diameter defining a width such that a ratio of the width of said body to said outer diameter is approximately 0.161.
14. The thrust plate of claim 13 wherein said thrust plate has a plurality of holes passing therethrough for allowing a lubricating fluid to communicate through said thrust plate with said bearing.
15. The thrust plate of claim 13 in which said ring-shaped body has a rim disposed along its outer diameter.
16. A liner for a generator having a plurality of springs therein comprising:
- a ring-shaped body having an inner diameter of 94.869 mm and an outer diameter of approximately 4.334 inches; and
- a cut-out disposed in said inner diameter therein, said cutout supporting a spring.
17. The liner of claim 16 wherein each cut-out defines an arc of approximately 84.5 degrees.
18. The liner of claim 17 wherein each cut-out defines a radius of approximately 8.064 mm.
19. An assembly for an aircraft generator having a bearing therein comprising:
- a spring guide;
- a spring disposed around said spring guide;
- a liner aligning said spring guide; and
- a thrust plate contiguous to said spring and the bearing.
20. The assembly of claim 19 wherein a ratio of an installed length of said spring and a length of said spring guide is approximately 1.231 to one.
21. The assembly of claim 19 wherein said thrust plate has a flat ring-shaped body having an interior diameter and an exterior diameter defining a width such that a ratio of the width of said body to said outer diameter is approximately 0.161.
22. The assembly of claim 19 wherein said liner comprises a ring-shaped body having a plurality of cut-outs disposed in said inner diameter therein
23. The assembly of claim 22 wherein each cut-out defines an arc of approximately 84.5 degrees.
24. The assembly of claim 20 wherein said spring guide comprises:
- a cylindrical body said cylindrical body having an outside diameter such that a ratio of the outside diameter of said spring to an outside diameter of said body is approximately 0.56.
25. The assembly of claim 20 wherein said guide further comprises a round base attached to an end of said cylindrical body wherein a ratio of the diameter of the base to said outside diameter of the cylindrical body is approximately 1.877.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 2, 2009
Publication Date: Jan 6, 2011
Patent Grant number: 8102089
Inventors: Glenn C. Lemmers, JR. (Loves Park, IL), Andrew P. Grosskopf (Rockford, IL), Mark A. Osborn (Cherry Valley, IL)
Application Number: 12/496,713